Gail is proud to collaborate with talented artists who bring her stories to life through their beautiful illustrations. Each artist adds their unique perspective and style, creating vibrant, engaging visuals that capture the heart and spirit of her books. Together, they craft worlds that inspire kindness, curiosity, and imagination for readers of all ages.

John Megahan
John Megahan’s lifelong passion for art and nature has shaped his remarkable career. Growing up, he spent countless hours outdoors exploring and sketching the natural world around him. In college, he combined his interests by studying biology and art, which led him to the field of scientific illustration — a perfect blend of his interests.

After college, he worked as a freelance illustrator, developing a large clientele that included governmental and advertising agencies, universities, publishers and more. After freelancing, John became the senior scientific illustrator at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology, where he continues to work today. Alongside his illustration work, he has enjoyed teaching art and biology, inspiring others with his knowledge and enthusiasm.

John’s other children’s picture book credits include W is for Waves, An Ocean Alphabet, Thumping on Trees, and The Red Fox and Johnny Valentine’s Blue-Speckled Hound. He looks forward to creating more wildlife and nature-inspired artwork and illustrating many more picture books.

Read a blog interview with John >

Jenny Kalejs
Jenny Kalejs is a multifaceted artist and nature lover with a talent for bringing stories vividly to life. A lifelong Michigander, she is also an avid recreational sports enthusiast, a professional playlist curator, and a devoted dog lover.

Jenny’s illustrations are more than just images — they are portals to magical worlds that invite readers on unforgettable journeys with every page turn. Her creative spirit shines through in every project, making her a cherished collaborator for authors looking to transform their words into visual adventures.

For commission inquiries, please email Jenny or send a message on Instagram @jennycardsandco.

Read more about Jenny’s creative journey >

THE MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW — SELECTED AS REVIEWER’S CHOICE

“Original, unique, deftly crafted, informative, engaging, bearing an important and inspiring message about kindness, rescue, engagement, and liberation with respect to animals in stress, “Into the Thicket” is an entertaining and inherently fascinating read from start to finish … especially and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections for children ages 4-8.” Read full review 

—James Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review 

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW

” … Uplifting and touching, Into the Thicket is the perfect story for quiet, sensitive, nature-loving readers everywhere. … a great starting point for discussions about wildlife rescue and the importance of caring for our natural world, making it an ideal addition to classroom or home libraries.” Read full review
—Dr. Jen Harrison

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

READERS’ CHOICE BOOK AWARD FINALIST

“… an imaginative and interactive collection of similes, brought to life through funny stories and vivid illustrations … 
a simple, effective, and memorable way to introduce similes to younger children. The book demonstrates the fun and playful aspect of language and will help develop children’s vocabulary …
the book will spark curiosity and creativity, and will encourage a love of reading and language among young readers.”

STORY MONSTERS INK 

“Super cute book and fun read for entire family! Beautifully illustrated with wonderful colors. The fun sayings passed down for generations made me smile!”
—Cynthia Kern O’Brien

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW (Lark)

“A fun read from start to finish, of special note is the inclusion of … ‘Ideas for Parents, Teachers, Caregivers’.  … will prove a welcome and enduringly popular pick for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.”